Lift storage device for a vehicle including lift assist

ABSTRACT

A storage device for a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, the storage device has an exterior housing, an interior container, and a scissor lift mechanism. The scissor lift mechanism is located within the exterior housing and is operatively connected to the interior container. The scissor lift mechanism has a raised position and a lowered position. The interior container is within the exterior housing when the scissor lift mechanism is in the lowered position. The interior container is at least partially located outside the exterior housing when the scissor lift mechanism is in the raised position. The scissor lift mechanism includes crossed bars that pivot about a bolt or pin in scissor-like fashion to raise or lower the interior container. An actuator pivots the cross bars to the raised position and is oriented and connected to the crossed bars to have an upward vertical force component throughout the raising operation.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/673,667, filed Oct. 10, 2017, which is herein incorporated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to vehicle storage devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pickup trucks comprise a cab and a bed. The bed may comprise raisedsides with an open top. It is known to provide tool boxes for use in abed of a pickup truck.

Many tool boxes for use in the bed of a pickup truck require the user tobend down to reach down in the tool box to retrieve items from the toolbox. While the storage of tools within the tool box in the bed of apickup truck may be convenient for transport, tools may not beconveniently located for easy removal from or storage within the toolbox.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,969 (the '969 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,177(the '177 patent) disclose a tool box for locating over a wheel well ofa truck bed. A jack is provided to move the tool box between a raisedand a lowered position. However, the devices of the '969 patent and the'177 patent do not provide a housing that protects the jack from theenvironment and from materials that may be loaded into the bed of thetruck.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,479 (the '479 patent) discloses a tool box thatextends across the bed of a truck. A jack is provided to move the toolbox from a lowered position to a raised position. However, the device ofthe '479 patent does not provide a housing that protects the jackcomponents from the environment and from materials that may be loadedinto the bed of the truck. Further, the device of the '479 patentprovides long tubes for housing a portion of the lift mechanism and thetubes interrupt long vertical spaces of the container.

U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2011/0284602 (the '602 publication) disclosesa tool box for a bed of a truck. Jacks raise and lower the tool box.However, the device of the '602 publication does not provide a housingthat protects the jack components from the environment and frommaterials that may be loaded into the bed of the truck.

The devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,636,182 and 6,929,303 do not provide ahousing that protects the jack components from the environment and frommaterials that may be loaded into the bed of the truck.

U.S. Patent App. Pub. 2010/0051662 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,624 disclosetruck tool boxes having a raisable portion. However, the raisableportions do not raise completely out of the tool box nor do they raisein a level manner. Each of these devices comprise a tilting liftmechanism, which has the disadvantage of causing the contents to slideto the back of the raisable portion away from the user. This makes ithard to maintain organization within the raisable portion and moredifficult for the user to reach the desired items in the raisableportion.

The present inventor recognized the need for an improved liftingcontainer for a vehicle. The present inventor recognized the need for alifting container that allows the user to deposit and remove items froma position more convenient for the user. The present inventor recognizedthe need for a lifting container that provides a housing for the liftmechanism to protect the mechanism from the environment and contentsthat may be loaded into the bed of the truck. The present inventorrecognized the need for a lifting container that lifts vertically froman exterior housing so that the contents in the lifting container arenot shuffled by tilting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A lift storage device for a truck bed is disclosed. In one embodiment,the device comprises an exterior housing, an interior container, and ascissor lift mechanism.

The exterior housing comprises sidewalls, a lid, a left wing, and aright wing. The left wing is configured to rest on a left side rail ofthe truck bed and the right wing is configured to rest on the right siderail of the truck bed so that the exterior housing extends across thetruck bed.

The scissor lift mechanism is located within the exterior housing and isoperatively connected to the interior container. The scissor liftmechanism comprises a raised position and a lowered position. Theinterior container is within the exterior housing when the scissor liftmechanism is in the lowered position. The interior container is at leastpartially located outside the exterior housing when the scissor liftmechanism is in the raised position. The scissor lift mechanismmaintains the interior container in the same orientation when thescissor lift mechanism is in the raised position and when the scissorlift mechanism is in the lowered position.

A drive mechanism is operatively connected to the scissor lift mechanismto drive the scissor lift mechanism between the lowered position and theraised position.

The drive mechanism includes an extendable member that is oriented toexert an upward lift assist on the interior container in addition toclosing the scissor lift mechanism, to move the interior container fromthe lowered position to the raised position.

In some embodiments, the interior container comprises a plurality ofdrawers located on a left side, a right side, and/or a front face of theinterior container.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a storage device for a vehicle shown mountedin the bed of a truck.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective left side view of the storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of the storage device of FIG. 1 withthe interior container removed to view underlying components.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the storage device of FIG. 1 with a secondembodiment interior container.

FIG. 6A is a front view of the storage device of FIG. 1 with a thirdembodiment interior container.

FIG. 7 is a perspective isometric view of a lift mechanism of thestorage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the lift mechanism of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lift mechanism of FIG. 7 shown in alowered position.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the lift mechanism of FIG. 7 in a loweredposition.

FIG. 12 is a front view of fourth embodiment interior containers of thestorage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a perspective isometric view of an alternate lift mechanismof the storage device of FIG. 1, shown in an elevated position.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the lift mechanism of FIG. 13 shown in alowered position.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken from FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the lift mechanism of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention. For the purposes of explanation,specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a plural understanding ofthe present invention. While this invention is susceptible of embodimentin many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will bedescribed herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

This application incorporates by reference U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/183,977, filed Jun. 16, 2016.

FIG. 1 shows a storage device 20 for a truck. The storage device 20mounted in the bed 10 of the truck. The storage device 20 is mounted sothe length of the storage device extends across the bed of the pickuptruck between a first side rail 13 and a second side rail 14 of the bed10 adjacent the front boundary of the bed 10 and adjacent the cab 17 ofthe truck.

The storage device 20 comprises an exterior container 22, an interiorcontainer 41, and a lift mechanism 131. The lift mechanism 131 isconfigured to raise and lower the interior container 41 relative to theexterior container 22.

The exterior container 22 comprises a base 24, a top portion 26, and alid 40. The base 24 comprises a front wall 106, a left side wall 112, aright side wall 110, and a back wall 108. The top portion 26 extendsfrom the base.

The top portion 26 comprises a left wing 28 and a right wing 30. Theleft-wing 28 is configured to be located over the left side rail 13 ofthe bed 10. The right wing 30 is configured to be located over the rightside rail 14 of the bed 10. The left and right wings support theexterior container on the respective side rails of the bed above the bedfloor 9. In some embodiments, the exterior container may rest on the bedfloor as well.

Left clamp 29 and right clamp 31 extend from the respective left wingand right wing and under the respective left rail 13 and right rail 14to secure the exterior container 22 to the bed rails by clamping forceabout the rails 13 and 14. The clamping force prevents the movement ofthe exterior container relative to the truck bed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the top portion 26 comprises a front wall 114, aback wall 116, a left side wall 118, and a right side wall 120. In someembodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the top portion iswider than the base in all horizontal directions. Therefore, the frontwall 114 is positioned rearward of the front wall 106. The back wall 116is positioned forward relative to the back wall 108. The left side wall118 is spaced leftward relative to the left side wall 112. The rightside wall 120 is spaced rightward relative to the right side wall 110.Therefore the horizontal area in the top portion 26 is greater than thehorizontal area in the base 24. In some embodiments, the top portion iswider only in the right and left horizontal directions, but not in thefront and rear horizontal directions.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vertical depth of the base 24 is greater than thevertical depth of the top portion 26. Therefore, more of the exteriorcontainer 22 is located below the top of the side rails 13 and 14 thanis located above.

The lid 40 is attached to the base by a hinge. The hinge connects to afirst side of the lid. The hinge also connects to an exterior surface ofthe back wall 116 of the top portion 26. The hinge allows the lid topivot between an open position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 and a closedposition (not shown) where the lid rests on or adjacent the top edge 27of the top portion 26. When the lid is in the closed position, theexterior housing provides an enclosed space containing the interiorcontainer 41 and the lift mechanism 131.

When the lid is in the closed position, the male elements 36, 38 engagewith the female latches 32, 34 to releasably secure the lid in theclosed position. The female latches 32, 34 comprise handles which whenpulled upward released the latch mechanism and allow the male elements36, 38 to withdraw from the female latches.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid may comprise a perimeter skirt 62,63, 64, 65, which extends away from the main portion 67. The right andleft sides of the lid comprise a right cylinder mount 66 a and a leftcylinder mount 66 b, respectively. The mounts 66 a, 66 b may be platesextending from the main portion 67 and comprising an aperture forreceiving a pivotable attachment to a right lift cylinder 68 and a leftlift cylinder 75, respectively. At an end 73 a (right side not shown)opposite the attachment to the lid, the lift cylinder 75 pivotalattaches to a mounting tab 69 (right side not shown) of the top portion26 which extends from the back wall 116.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lift mechanism 131 is supported on the floor 104of the base 24. As shown in FIG. 7, the lift mechanism 131 comprises anupper frame 72, a lower frame 144, a scissor mechanism 162, and a drivemechanism 218. Spacing blocks 105, 107 may be provided at opposite sidesof the base to support the lower frame 144 above the floor 104 and tospace the lower frame 144 from the floor 104.

The interior container 41 is supported on the upper frame 72 of the liftmechanism 131. The interior container 41 may be attached to the upperframe on opposite sides by bolts or studs 76, 77 as shown in FIGS. 2 and3. The bolts penetrate holes in the upper frame 72 and nuts are fastenedfrom the underside to secure the interior container 41 to the upperframe 72. Other means and devices for connecting the interior containerto the upper support frame may be provided, such as welding, clamping,etc.

In one embodiment, the left end and the right end of the interiorcontainer 41 comprise drawers 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 as shown inFIGS. 1 to 4. The figures show that the left side of the interiorcontainer has three drawers and the right side has four drawers. Howeverin other embodiments, each side may contain any number of drawers. Insome embodiments, the right side contains the same number of drawers asthe left side. In some embodiments, each of the right and left sidescomprise between 1 and 10 drawers. The height of each drawer can be, butneed not be, the same. The number of drawers and their respective heightmay be determined by the area which is available within the exteriorcontainer between the floor 104 and the lid 40, when the lid is in theclosed position.

Each of the drawers may comprise a handle as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4.FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the drawers on the left side. Drawer42 comprises an interior space 90 defining a semi enclosed space by afront wall 78, a first side wall 94, a second side wall 82, a rear wall(not shown), and a floor 92. The drawer 42 comprises a handle 80. Thedrawers are slidably connected to a body 43 of the interior container41. The connection of the drawers allows them to slide in and out of thebody 43. In some embodiments, the slide path of the drawers ishorizontal or substantially horizontal.

The drawers may be slidably attached to the body 43 on slide tracks suchas those which are known in the art. FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of theslide track. The slide tracks are provided on both sides of each drawer.FIG. 4 shows a first slide track 56 of the drawer 42. The first slidetrack 56 comprises a lower rail 99 spaced apart from an upper rail 100by a recessed region 98. The first slide track 56 is fixed to the drawer42. The first slide track 56 is received in a second track 58. A secondslide track 58 is fixed to the body 43. The second slide track 58comprises a roller 102 that is positioned between the lower rail 99 andthe upper rail 100 of the first track 56. The roller facilitates thesliding of the first slide track relative to the second slide track andthereby the drawer relative to the body 43. The other drawers 44, 46,48, 50, 52, 53 are slidably attached on both sides to the body in thesame manner as described above with respect to drawer 42.

A second embodiment interior container 51 is shown in FIG. 6. Container51 is identical to container 41 except that container 51 has drawersthat extend from the front face 51 a of the container rather than fromthe left and right sides as is provided with container 41. A rightdrawer bank 53 comprises drawers 53 a, 53 b, 53 c. A left drawer bank 55comprises drawers 55 a, 55 b, 55 c. The drawers slide rearward andforward relative to the front face 51 a on slide tracks of the typedescribed with respect to container 41. The container 51 will havevertical supports (not shown) on opposite sides of each drawer forattaching the slide tracks and thereby supporting the drawers. In someembodiments, the interior container can have a combination of rightand/or left side drawers, such as drawers 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 aswell as front sliding drawers such as draws 53 a-c, 55 a-c.

A third embodiment interior container 61 is shown in FIG. 6A, the leftand right side drawers are shallower, and one set of front slidingdrawers 61 a is centered between the right and left sides of theinterior container. Therefore the interior container can have right 48,50, 52, 54 and left side drawers 42, 44, 46 as well as front slidingdrawers 61 a.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lift mechanism 131 fits laterally between theright sidewall 110 and the left side wall 112. In some embodiments, thelift mechanism does not extend into the right wing area 124 or the leftwing area 122. The right wing area 124 has a right wing floor 128. Theleft wing area 122 has a left wing floor 126. The lower frame 144 isattached to the support blocks 105, 107 by bolts, screws, welding,adhesives, or other fasteners. The support blocks may be fixed to thefloor 104 of the exterior container by bolts, screws, welding,adhesives, or other fasteners.

The lift mechanism 131 is shown in FIG. 7. The upper frame 72 comprisesa front bar 132, a rear bar 130, a right side bar 134, and a left sidebar 136. The bars 130, 132, 134, 136 are connected to form a rectangle.The lower frame 144 comprises a front bar 148, a rear bar 154, a rightside bar 150, and a left side bar 152. The bars 148, 150, 152, 154 areconnected to form a rectangle.

The upper frame 72 and the lower frame 144 are connected together by ascissor apparatus 162.

In some embodiments, the lower or upper frame or both may comprisecrossmember support bars. The crossmember support bars may beperpendicular to bars 154, 148 or maybe positioned to create oblique oracute angles relative to bars 154, 148. In some embodiments, the upperframe and the lower frame have the same shape and size.

In some embodiments, each of the bars 130, 132, 134, 136, 148, 150, 152,154 comprise an L-shape in cross-section. In some embodiments, each ofthe bars 130, 132, 134, 136, 148, 150, 152, 154, are rectangle, square,triangle, round, or other shape in cross-section. In some embodiments,some bars comprise one shape in cross-section, and other bars compriseanother shape in cross-section.

The scissor apparatus 162 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thescissor apparatus comprises front crossed bars 168, 170 and back crossedbars 172, 174. The crossed bars 168, 170 are pivotally connectedtogether at about a center of their respective lengths by a rod 171having a threaded end (not shown), an engaged nut (not shown) and a stopwasher (not shown). The front crossed bars 168, 170 are captured on therod 171 between the stop washer and the threaded nut, forming anX-shaped, first scissor mechanism 181. The back crossed bars 172, 174are pivotally connected at about a center of their respective lengths bythe rod 171 having an opposite threaded end 171 a, a further engaged nut172 b and a stop washer 171 c (FIG. 10). The back crossed bars 172, 174are captured on the rod 171 between the stop washer 171 c and thethreaded nut 171 b, forming an X-shaped, second scissor mechanism 183.The first and second scissor mechanisms are parallel and mirror imageidentical across a longitudinal center plane of the scissor apparatus162, the center plane located midway between the front and rear bars132, 130 and midway between the front and rear bars 148, 154. Thus, thetwo scissor mechanisms 181, 183 can simultaneously pivot about the rod171 between a lowered position (FIG. 10) and a raised position (FIG. 8).

Left side ends of the bars 168, 172 are pivotally connected to the bar136 of the upper frame and left side ends of the bars 170, 174 arepivotally connected to the bar 152 of the lower frame. Right side endsof the bars 170, 174 are connected to the bars 132, 130 respectively, bysliding and pivoting connections 200, 202 located adjacent to the bar134. Right side ends of the bars 168, 172 are connected to the bars 148,154 respectively by sliding and pivoting connections 204, 206 locatedadjacent to the bar 150.

The bars 168, 170, 172, 174 are each pivotally connected to therespective bars 136, 152 by a trunnion 188 formed by parallel lugs 190,192 welded to the respective bars 136, 152 that pivotally attaches tothe respective end of the bars 168, 170, 172, 174 by a through bolt 196.The four connections are substantially identical in configuration.

The connection 200 is shown in FIG. 9 with the understanding that theconnection 204 is substantially identical and the connections 202, 206are mirror image identical. As shown in FIG. 9, the connection 200provide a pivoting and sliding connection configured by a square tube210 having a slot 212 through an inward facing sidewall 214. A bolt 220has a shaft 222 that passes through the slot and is formed with a bolthead 224 that is captured within the square tube 210. The shaft 222 hasa threaded region 226 that is fastened to the respective bar 170, 174,148, 154 by a nut 228 and a stop washer 230, the respective bar 170,174, 148, 154 being captured between the nut 228 and the stop washer 230on the shaft 222 but being pivotal with respect to the tube 210 aboutthe axis of the bolt shaft 222 and slidable along the slot 212.

At a right side of the scissor apparatus 162, a driving mechanism 218that is configured to exert a translating force, is pivotally attachedat one end by a through bolt 236 to a trunnion 230 formed by parallellugs 232, 234 welded to the bar 150.

At an opposite end, the driving mechanism 218 is pivotally attached to across bar 250 that is attached on opposite ends to the bars 170, 174 bywelding. A trunnion 254 is formed by parallel lugs 256, 258 welded tothe cross bar 250 that pivotally attaches to the driving mechanism by athrough bolt 260. The cross bar 250 can be additionally reinforced by apair of oblique braces 250 a, 250 b welded to the cross bar at near itscenter-of-length and to the respective bars 170, 174 (FIG. 11). Thecross bar 250 is arranged at about midway between the rod 171 and thebar 134 along the length of the bars 170, 174. The driving mechanism 218when elongated will vertically elongate the scissor mechanisms 181, 183,and by being arranged at an oblique angle B (FIGS. 8 and 10), will exerta force on the cross bar 250 that has a horizontal and an upwardvertical component.

By virtue of the driving mechanism exerting a force that has ahorizontal component, the scissor mechanisms 181, 183 are actuated tovertically elongate by pivoting about the rod 171 in a scissoringmovement, and by virtue of the driving mechanism exerting the force thathas a vertical upward component, the scissor mechanisms are assisted inthe vertical elongation which is resisted by the weight of the load onthe scissor mechanisms, i.e., the weight of the interior containercarried by the scissor mechanisms.

The lift mechanism 131 includes four stops, one located near eachcorner. The stops define the collapsed height of the scissor mechanism.Two stops 270, 272 are welded to the upper frame 72 and two stops 280,282 are welded to the lower frame 144. When the scissor apparatus 162 iscollapsed, the stop 270 which is welded to the bar 132 impacts the bar148. The stop 272 which is welded to the bar 130 impacts the bar 154.The stop 280 which is welded to the bar 148 impacts the bar 132. Thestop 282 which is welded to the bar 154 impacts the bar 130. The stops280, 282 include a cut out region 280 a, 282 a that allow the stop tofit within the L-shaped profile of the bars 130, 132 when the liftmechanism 131 is collapsed.

The collapsed height of the lift mechanism 131 is set such that thedrive mechanism remains at an upward inclination extending from thelower frame 144, which preserves the upward component of the force bythe driving mechanism on the scissor mechanisms 181, 183. This willallow the scissor mechanisms to more easily vertically elongate from thecollapsed configuration of the lift mechanism 131.

An alternate embodiment lift mechanism 431 is shown in FIG. 13. The liftmechanism 431 includes the upper frame 72 comprising the front bar 132,the rear bar 130, the right side bar 134, and the left side bar 136. Thebars 130, 132, 134, 136 are connected to form a rectangle. The liftmechanism 431 includes the lower frame 144 comprising the front bar 148,the rear bar 154, the right side bar 150, and the left side bar 152. Thebars 148, 150, 152, 154 are connected to form a rectangle.

In some embodiments, the lower or upper frame or both may comprisecrossmember support bars. The crossmember support bars may beperpendicular to bars 154, 148 or maybe positioned to create oblique oracute angles relative to bars 154, 148. In some embodiments, the upperframe and the lower frame have the same shape and size.

In some embodiments, each of the bars 130, 132, 134, 136, 148, 150, 152,154 comprise an L-shape in cross-section. In some embodiments, each ofthe bars 130, 132, 134, 136, 148, 150, 152, 154, are rectangle, square,triangle, round, or other shape in cross-section. In some embodiments,some bars comprise one shape in cross-section, and other bars compriseanother shape in cross-section.

The upper frame 72 and the lower frame 144 are connected together by ascissor apparatus 462. The scissor apparatus 462 is shown in more detailin FIGS. 13-17. The scissor apparatus comprises a right side, X-shaped,first scissor mechanism 481 that includes front crossed bars 468, 470.The crossed bars 468, 470 are pivotally connected together at about acenter of their respective lengths by a pin or bolt 475. The scissorapparatus comprises a right side, X-shaped, second scissor mechanism 483including the back crossed bars 472, 474 pivotally connected at about acenter of their respective lengths by a pin or bolt 475. The first andsecond scissor mechanisms 481, 483 are parallel and mirror imageidentical across the longitudinal center plane of the scissor apparatus462. Thus, the two scissor mechanisms 481, 483 can simultaneously pivotabout the bolts or pins 471, 475 between a lowered position (FIG. 15)and a raised position (FIG. 13).

The scissor apparatus 462 comprises a left side, X-shaped, third scissormechanism 581 that includes front crossed bars 568, 570. The crossedbars 568, 570 are pivotally connected together at about a center oftheir respective lengths by a pin or bolt 571. The scissor apparatuscomprises a left side, X-shaped, fourth scissor mechanism 583 includingthe back crossed bars 572, 574 pivotally connected at about a center oftheir respective lengths by a pin or bolt 575. The first and secondscissor mechanisms 581, 583 are parallel and mirror image identicalacross the longitudinal center plane of the scissor apparatus 462. Thus,the two scissor mechanisms 581, 583 can simultaneously pivot about thebolts or pins 571, 575 between a lowered position (FIG. 15) and a raisedposition (FIG. 13).

Right side ends of the bars 470, 474 and left side ends of the bars 570,574 are pivotally connected to the bars 132, 130 respectively of theupper frame 72. Right side ends of the bars 468, 472 are pivotallyconnected to the bar 150 of the lower frame. Left side ends of the bars568, 572 are pivotally connected to the bar 152 of the lower frame 144.

The bars 468, 472 are each pivotally connected to the bar 150 by thetrunnion 188 formed by parallel lugs 190, 192 welded to the bar 150 thatpivotally attaches to the respective end of the bars 468, 472 by athrough bolt 496. The bars 568, 572 are each pivotally connected to thebar 152 by the trunnion 188 formed by parallel lugs 190, 192 welded tothe bar 152 that pivotally attaches to the respective end of the bars568, 572 by a through bolt 496. The four connections are substantiallyidentical in configuration.

The bars 470, 474 are each pivotally connected to the respective bar132, 130 by a spacer block 606 welded to the respective bar 470, 474 andthe respective bar 470, 474 and spacer block 606 are pivotally connectedto the respective bar 130, 132 by a through bolt or pin 607. The fourpivotal connection between the bars 470, 570 and the bar 132 and thebars 474, 574 and the bar 130 are substantially identical inconfiguration, and mirror image across the longitudinal center plane ofthe scissor apparatus 462.

Left side ends of the bars 468, 472 and right side ends of the bars 568,572 are pivotally and slidably connected to the bars 132, 130respectively of the upper frame 72 by sliding and pivoting connections600, 602. Left side ends of the bars 470, 474 and right side ends of thebars 570, 574 are pivotally and slidably connected to the bars 148, 154respectively of the lower frame 144 by sliding and pivoting connections604, 606.

The connections 600 is shown in FIG. 14 with the understanding that theconnections 604 are substantially identical and the connections 602, 606are mirror image identical to the connections 600, 604 across thelongitudinal vertical center plane of the lift apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 14, the connection 600 provide a pivoting and slidingconnection configured by a square tube 610 having a slot 612 through aninward facing sidewall 614. Each bar 470, 474, 468, 472, 570, 574, 568,572 has a spacer 611 attached thereto placed against the sidewall 614. Abolt 620 has a shaft 622 that passes through the slot and is formed witha bolt head 624 that is captured within the square tube 610. The shaft622 has a threaded region 626 that passes through a hole through thespacer 611 and the respective bar 470, 474, 468, 472, 570, 574, 568, 572and is fastened to the respective bar 470, 474, 468, 472, 570, 574, 568,572 by a nut 228, the respective bar 470, 474, 468, 472, 570, 574, 568,572 and respective spacer 611 being captured between the nut 228 and thesidewall 614 but being pivotal with respect to the tube 610 about theaxis of the bolt shaft 622 and slidable along the slot 612.

Thus, the four scissor mechanisms 481, 483, 581, 583 can simultaneouslypivot about the bolts or pins 471, 475, 571, 575 in a scissoringmovement to move between a lowered position (FIG. 15) and a raisedposition (FIG. 13).

A first cross bar 650 is attached at its ends to the bars 468, 472 at aposition on the bars between the connections 600, 602 and the pins 471,475. A second cross bar 654 is attached at its ends to the bars 570, 574at a position on the bars between the connections 604, 606 and the pins571, 575.

Between the right side scissor mechanisms 481, 483 and the left sidescissor mechanisms 581, 583 of the scissor apparatus 462, a drivingmechanism 218 is pivotally attached at one end to a trunnion 660 formedby parallel lugs 662, 664 welded to the first cross bar 650, by athrough bolt 236.

At an opposite end, the driving mechanism 218 is pivotally attached tothe second cross bar 654 by a trunnion 674 is formed by parallel lugs676, 678 welded to the cross bar 654 that pivotally attaches to thedriving mechanism by a through bolt 780. The driving mechanism 218 isconfigured to exert a translating or linear force, and when elongatedwill cause sliding of the respective bars 468, 470, 472, 474, 568, 570,572, 574 at the connections 600, 602, 604, 606 as the cross bars 650,654 are forced further apart and the resultant scissoring action of thefour scissor mechanisms 481, 483, 581, 583 will vertically elongate thescissor mechanisms 481, 483, 581, 583. Also, by the driving mechanismextendable member being arranged at an oblique angle B, the drivingmechanism exerts a force on the first cross bar 650 that has ahorizontal and an upward vertical component.

By virtue of the driving mechanism exerting a force that has ahorizontal component, the scissor mechanisms 481, 483, 581, 583 areactuated to vertically elongate by pivoting about the pins 471, 475,571, 575 in a scissoring movement, and by virtue of the drivingmechanism exerting the force that has a vertical upward component, thescissor mechanisms are assisted in the vertical elongation which isresisted by the weight of the load on the scissor mechanisms, i.e., theweight of the interior container carried by the scissor mechanisms.

The scissor mechanism 483 and its connections are configured in mirrorimage fashion to the scissor mechanism 481 across the verticallongitudinal center plane of the scissor apparatus 462. The verticallongitudinal center plane of the scissor apparatus 462 is the same as avertical longitudinal center plane of the lift mechanism 431. Thescissor mechanism 581 and its connections are configured in mirror imagefashion to the lift mechanism 481 across a vertical transverse centerplane of the scissor apparatus 462. The vertical transverse center planeof the scissor apparatus 462 is midway between the right bar 134 and theleft bar 136 of the upper frame 72, and midway between the right bar 150and the left bar 152 of the lower frame 144. The vertical transversecenter plane of the scissor apparatus 462 is the same as the verticaltransverse plane of the lift mechanism 431. The scissor mechanism 583and its connections are configured in mirror image fashion to thescissor mechanism 581 across the vertical longitudinal center plane ofthe scissor apparatus 462.

As per the previously described embodiment, the lift mechanism 431includes the four stops, one located near each corner. The stops definethe collapsed height of the scissor mechanism. Two stops 270, 272 arewelded to the upper frame 72 and two stops 280, 282 are welded to thelower frame 144. When the scissor apparatus 462 is collapsed, the stop270 which is welded to the bar 132 impacts the bar 148. The stop 272which is welded to the bar 130 impacts the bar 154. The stop 280 whichis welded to the bar 148 impacts the bar 132. The stop 282 which iswelded to the bar 154 impacts the bar 130. The stops 280, 282 include acut out region 280 a, 282 a that allow the stop to fit within theL-shaped profile of the bars 130, 132 when the lift mechanism 431 iscollapsed.

The collapsed height of the lift mechanism 431 is set such that thedrive mechanism remains at an upward inclination extending from thecross bar 652 to the cross bar 650, which preserves the upward componentof the force by the driving mechanism on the scissor mechanisms 481,483. This will allow the scissor mechanisms to more easily verticallyelongate from the collapsed configuration of the lift mechanism 431.

The drive mechanism 218 for either of the above described embodimentscan comprise a linear actuator 312. The linear actuator comprises acylinder 314 and a rod 316 (FIGS. 8, 11 and 17). The rod 316 ispivotally connected to the cross bar 250 by the trunnion 254, 260 andthe cylinder is pivotally connected to the bar 150 of the lower frame orto the cross bar 654.

In some embodiments, the linear actuator 312 is a screw type linearactuators, where a screw (not shown) within the cylinder 314 is drivenby a motor, such as an electric motor 313. There can be gearing betweenthe motor and the screw (not shown). The screw pushes and pulls the rod316 depending on the direction of rotation of the screw by the motor.

The motor 313 can be connected to a power source, such as a vehiclebattery, by a cable 219. In some embodiments, the vehicle battery orother power source is a 12 volt power source and the motor is adapted tooperate from a 12 volt power source. In some embodiments, the vehicle orother power source is adapted to provide 110 volt power and the motor isadapted to operate from a 110 volt power source. The cable 219 maycomprise a control switch 60. The control switch provides threepositions, a raise position, a lower position and a neutral position.When in the raise position the switch causes power to be provided to themotor to cause the motor to rotate in the first direction. When in thelower position, the switch causes the power to be provided to the motorto cause the motor to rotate in a second direction opposite the firstdirection. In the neutral position the power switch provides no power tothe motor so that the motor does not turn and the lift mechanism doesnot raise or lower.

The switch 60 may be located at the front of the exterior container asshown in FIGS. 1 and 5. In some embodiments, the switch 60 may belocated at either the left or right side of the exterior container sothat it is readily available adjacent the doors of the truck cab. Insome embodiments, the switch can be located at 126 in FIG. 5 and at thesame location on the opposite side. In some embodiments, two switchesfor controlling the motor and the lift mechanism are provided, one ateach of the left and right sides of the exterior container.

While the figures show the switch is in wired communication with thebattery and motor, in some embodiments the switch is within a wirelesshandheld device that is wireless communication with a receiver ortransceiver, which is in wired control communication with the motor.Communication between the handheld device and the receiver ortransceiver may comprise an authentication function on the handhelddevice and the receiver or transceiver for ensuring the handheld deviceis authorized to instruct the receiver or transceiver.

Communication between the handheld device and/or the receiver ortransceiver may comprise an encryption function on the handheld deviceand/or the receiver or transceiver for providing encrypted communicationbetween the handheld device and the receiver or transceiver.

In one embodiment, the power is available to the switch only when thevehicle's ignition switch is in the on condition/position. Therefore thelift mechanism can only be operated when the vehicle's ignition switchis in the on condition/position.

Alternatively, the linear actuator 312 can be a hydraulic cylinderdriven and withdrawn by hydraulic pressure created by a hydraulic pump(not shown) acting on hydraulic fluid. The linear actuator 312 may alsobe a wheel and axle type, a cam type, a pneumatic type, or other typelinear actuator. In some embodiments, a pneumatic bag is used as alinear actuator.

The lift mechanism maintains the interior container in the sameorientation in the raised position, in the lowered position, and whenmoving between the raised position and a lowered position. Therefore theinterior container does not rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise fromthe position shown in FIG. 1, but instead is moved vertically relativeto the exterior container 22 and the truck.

The lift mechanism is configured to maintain interior container in ahorizontal orientation when the scissor lift mechanism is in the raisedposition and when the scissor lift mechanism is in the lowered position.The lift mechanism maintains the interior container in the horizontalorientation when moving between the raised position and a loweredposition.

In some embodiments, the bottom of the interior container is parallel orsubstantially parallel to the floor 104 of the exterior container or thebed floor 9 of the truck. The lift mechanism maintains the interiorcontainer parallel or substantially parallel to the floor 104 of theexterior container or the bed floor 9 of the truck when moving betweenthe raised position and a lowered position

In some embodiments, the lift mechanism is connected to the interiorcontainer only at the bottom of the interior container. The liftmechanism is located under the interior container to support the weightof the interior container and the contents loaded in the interiorcontainer.

In operation, when the linear actuator causes the rod 316 to extend inthe direction E (FIGS. 8 and 13), the scissoring apparatus 162, 462rises. When the linear actuator causes the rod 316 to retract in thedirection F (FIGS. 8 and 13), the scissoring apparatus 162, 462 lowers.

In a fourth embodiment, the interior container 41 may comprise multipleseparate interior containers, such as a left side interior container 352and a right side interior container 354 shown in FIG. 12. In someembodiments, each container 352, 354 may comprise left and right sidedrawers, such as those shown with interior container 41. In someembodiments, each container 352, 354 comprises front sliding drawers,such as those shown with interior container 51. In some embodiments,each container comprises a combination of front sliding and right and/orleft side sliding drawers, such as shown with interior container 61.

In some embodiments, the containers 352, 354 do not have drawers butinstead have a top lid that opens to provide access to the internalspace of the containers.

In some embodiments, the exterior container 22 is any conventionalpickup truck bed toolbox.

In some embodiments, the lift mechanism 131, 431 and interior container41 are provided separate from the exterior container so that it may beinstalled in a conventional truck bed toolbox.

The embodiments of the invention can be constructed of steel, aluminum,plastic or other appropriate materials. Where a method of attachment isspecified such as by welding, it is encompassed by the invention thatother methods of attachment could also be used, such as by fasteners.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended orshould be inferred.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A storage device for a truck bed,comprising: an exterior housing comprising sidewalls, a lid, a leftwing, and a right wing, the left wing is configured to rest on a leftside rail of the truck bed and the right wing is configured to rest onthe right side rail of the truck bed so that the exterior housingextends across the truck bed adjacent a truck cab, the exterior housingproviding an enclosed space when the lid is in a closed position; aninterior container; a scissor lift mechanism located within the exteriorhousing and supporting the interior container, the scissor liftmechanism comprises a raised position and a lowered position, theinterior container is within the exterior housing when the scissor liftmechanism is in the lowered position, the interior container is at leastpartially located outside the exterior housing when the scissor liftmechanism is in the raised position, the scissor lift mechanismmaintains the interior container in a horizontal orientation when thescissor lift mechanism is in the raised position and when the scissorlift mechanism is in the lowered position; wherein the scissor liftmechanism comprises a lower frame, a upper frame supporting the innercontainer, a first bar pivotally connected to the lower frame at a firstend, and pivotally and slidably connected to the upper frame at a secondend, a second bar pivotally connected to the first bar at a positionbetween the first end and the second end, and pivotally and slidablyconnected to the lower frame at a third end and pivotally connected tothe upper frame at a fourth end; the scissor lift mechanism comprises athird bar pivotally connected to the lower frame at a first end, andpivotally and slidably connected to the upper frame at a second end, aforth bar pivotally connected to the third bar at a position between thefirst end and the second end, and pivotally and slidably connected tothe lower frame at a third end and pivotally connected to the upperframe at a fourth end; the third bar and the fourth bar are arranged andconfigured side-by-side in mirror image fashion to the first and secondbars across a vertical transverse center plane of the scissor liftmechanism; a drive mechanism operatively connected to the scissor liftmechanism to drive the scissor lift mechanism between the loweredposition and the raised position; wherein the drive mechanism comprisesan actuator with an extendable member, the extendable member operativelyconnected at one end to the first bar at a position between the secondbar and the second end, and at an opposite end operatively connected tothe fourth bar at a position between the third bar and third end,wherein extension of the extendable member lifts the first bar pivotallyabout the first end and elevates the upper frame from the lower frame.2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the scissor lift mechanismmaintains the interior container in the horizontal orientation whenmoving between the raised position and the lowered position.
 3. Thestorage device of claim 1, wherein the interior container comprises abottom floor and the scissor lift mechanism maintains the bottom floorin a horizontal orientation when moving between the raised position andthe lowered position.
 4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein theinterior container comprises a left side, a right side, and a pluralityof drawers, at least one of the plurality of drawers is located on theleft side and at least one of the plurality of drawers is located on therights side.
 5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the interiorcontainer comprises a left side, a right side, a front face and aplurality of drawers, at least one of the plurality of drawers islocated on the front face.
 6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein theinterior container comprises a left side, a right side, a front face anda plurality of drawers, at least one of the plurality of drawers islocated on each of the front face, the left side, and the right side. 7.The storage device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises amotor operatively connected to the scissor lift mechanism through agearing.
 8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanismcomprises a linear actuator connected to the scissoring mechanism. 9.The storage device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism is pivotallyconnected to the first bar and to the fourth bar.
 10. The storage deviceof claim 9, wherein the extendable member is inclined upward from thefourth bar toward the first bar when the upper frame is in the loweredposition.
 11. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the interiorcontainer comprises a plurality of interior containers each operativelyconnected to the scissor lift mechanism.
 12. The storage device of claim1, wherein the extendable member comprises a shaft extendable from acylinder, the shaft pivotally operatively connected to the first bar.13. The storage device of claim 12, comprising a left clamp and a rightclamp, the left clamp extending from the left wing and configured toextend under the left side rail of the truck bed, the right clampextending from the right wing and configured to extend under the rightrail of the truck bed.
 14. The storage device of claim 1, wherein thescissor lift mechanism further comprises a fifth bar and a sixth bar,arranged and configured in mirror image fashion to the first and secondbars across a vertical longitudinal center plane of the scissor liftmechanism, the fifth and sixth bars acting in parallel with the firstand second bars to raise and lower the upper frame.
 15. The storagedevice of claim 1, wherein the scissor lift mechanism further comprisesa fifth bar and a sixth bar, arranged and configured in mirror imagefashion to the first and second bars across a vertical longitudinalcenter plane of the scissor lift mechanism, the fifth and sixth barsacting in simultaneously with the first and second bars to raise andlower the upper frame; and, wherein the scissor lift mechanism furthercomprises a seventh bar and an eighth bar, arranged and configured inmirror image fashion to the third and fourth bars across a verticallongitudinal center plane of the scissor lift mechanism, the seventh andeighth bars acting simultaneously with the first and second bars toraise and lower the upper frame.
 16. A tool box for a truck bed,comprising: an exterior housing comprising sidewalls, a lid, theexterior housing configured to extends across the truck bed adjacent atruck cab, the exterior housing providing an enclosed space when the lidis in a closed position; an interior container; a scissor lift mechanismlocated within the exterior housing and supporting the interiorcontainer, the scissor lift mechanism comprises a raised position and alowered position, the interior container is within the exterior housingwhen the scissor lift mechanism is in the lowered position, the interiorcontainer is at least partially located outside the exterior housingwhen the scissor lift mechanism is in the raised position, the scissorlift mechanism maintains the interior container in the same orientationwhen in the raised position, when in the lowered position, and whenmoving between the raised position and the lowered position; wherein thescissor lift mechanism comprises a lower frame, a upper frame supportingthe interior container, a first bar pivotally connected to the lowerframe at a first end, and pivotally and slidably connected to the upperframe at a second end, a second bar pivotally connected to the first barat a position between the first end and the second end, and pivotallyand slidably connected to the lower frame at a third end and pivotallyconnected to the upper frame at a fourth end; the scissor lift mechanismcomprises a third bar pivotally connected to the lower frame at a firstend, and pivotally and slidably connected to the upper frame at a secondend, a forth bar pivotally connected to the third bar at a positionbetween the first end and the second end, and pivotally and slidablyconnected to the lower frame at a third end and pivotally connected tothe upper frame at a fourth end; the third bar and the fourth bar arearranged and configured side-by-side in mirror image fashion to thefirst and second bars across a vertical transverse center plane of thescissor lift mechanism; a drive mechanism operatively connected to thescissor lift mechanism to drive the scissor lift mechanism between thelowered position and the raised position; wherein the drive mechanismcomprises an actuator with an extendable member, the extendable memberoperatively connected at one end to the first bar at a position betweenthe second bar and the second end, and at an opposite end operativelyconnected to the fourth bar at a position between the third bar andthird end, wherein extension of the extendable member lifts the firstbar pivotally about the first end and elevates the upper frame from thelower frame.
 17. The tool box of claim 16, wherein the interiorcontainer comprises a left side, a right side, and a plurality ofdrawers, at least one of the plurality of drawers is located on the leftside and at least one of the plurality of drawers is located on therights side.
 18. The tool box of claim 16, wherein the drive mechanismis pivotally connected between the first bar and the fourth bar.
 19. Thetool box of claim 18, wherein the extendable member is inclined upwardfrom the fourth bar toward the first bar when the upper frame is in thelowered position.
 20. The tool box of claim 16, wherein the scissor liftmechanism further comprises a fifth bar and a sixth bar, arranged andconfigured in mirror image fashion to the first and second bars across avertical longitudinal center plane of the scissor lift mechanism, thefifth and sixth bars acting in simultaneously with the first and secondbars to raise and lower the upper frame; and, wherein the scissor liftmechanism further comprises a seventh bar and an eighth bar, arrangedand configured in mirror image fashion to the third and fourth barsacross a vertical longitudinal center plane of the scissor liftmechanism, the seventh and eighth bars acting simultaneously with thefirst and second bars to raise and lower the upper frame.